Excessive hunger, heightened fatigue and extreme irritability may describe a common college student. But these symptoms can also be a sign of diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Sponsored by Gritman Diabetes and Wellness, free educational classes are held the first Tuesday of each month to help with management of blood sugar, nutrition, exercise and medication. Nancy Kure, Gritman’s diabetes care director, is in charge of the classes and often assigns a speaker for each class on different subject areas relating to diabetes.
On Jan. 3, Martin Wellness Center coordinator Odette Engan spoke about the importance of exercise and her Fit and Fall Proof class, an exercise program held at the center.
“If you have pre-diabetes or diabetes and you exercise, it helps control blood sugar, which helps control complications like blindness … or [possible] amputations,” Kure said.
Engan said Fit and Fall Proof is mostly for seniors, with strength and stretching exercises to reduce the risk of falling, as well as exercises from sitting to standing positions.
While Engan said exercise is important for people with diabetes, she said they should visit a doctor before beginning a program.
“Exercise may reduce the risks [of diabetes], but as far as preventing diabetes — that’s a pretty big stretch,” Engan said.
Next month’s class, from 4 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 7, is called “Healthy Heart” and will be led by Gritman’s diabetes care team.
“If you have diabetes, the risk for heart disease goes way up,” Kure said. “It is the same risk of a person who has already had a heart attack.”
Kure said the class will focus on nutrition and understanding blood pressure in order to prevent heart disease. The class is centered around hearts, due to Valentine’s Day.
Classes run all year as part of a non-profit outreach, and apart from speakers, Kure said the classes are interactive and can range from cooking to playing games.
“If you think about it, we bring in podiatrists … the eye doctor … and if these people know ‘Gosh, I gotta get my eyes checked,’ they’re really gonna lower their risk of getting those complications,” Kure said. “They’re going to get a lot out of each one of the classes.”
Classes are held in the Gritman Conference Center on 700 S. Main St. and more information can be found at gritman.org.
“[The classes] are just a good reminder every month to take care of yourself,” Kure said.